Homeowners itchin’ to spruce up kitchen

The kitchen is the heartbeat of a home, and real estate agents agree it’s the room that sells a house.

As recession woes recede and homeowners become more willing to engage in large remodeling projects, more kitchens are receiving the spiff and polish they deserve.

Based on a 2012 survey conducted by Remodeling Magazine, the average cost of major kitchen renovations in the Denver metro area clocks in at $55,571.

That’s a lot of money — and the $55,000 question is: “Why?”

The components — especially appliances, cabinetry and counter tops — that go into a kitchen can cause the bottom line of a remodeling budget to balloon quickly, said Cher Schuk, a certified kitchen and bathroom designer and owner of CS Design Inc. in Superior.

“When a client wants to splurge on something, I first point them to appliances,” she said. “The kitchen is all about cooking, so if you’re going to spend money on a single item, consider a high-end stove.”

Schuk also steers clients toward mid- to high-end cabinets. “Kitchen cabinets are used every single day,” she said. “They can take a real beating. Allocating a big portion of your budget toward them makes sense. After all, a kitchen remodel only happens once every 20 or 30 years. You want them to last.”

Karen McAvinew, lead designer of Positive Transitions Design in Louisville, agrees. But when it comes to a particular style favored by her clients, she’s quick to explain, “There is none. The biggest trend I see in kitchen design right now is individuality. Clients aren’t looking for something unique just for the sake of being unique. They want a kitchen that fits their lifestyle and needs.”

Still, the days of the Tuscan-style kitchen are gone. Transitional design, described as “classic with a contemporary twist” incorporates traditional and contemporary themes — something midway between an old-world feel and the sleekness of modern design. It’s warmer and more cozy than the hard lines of strict modern design and less fussy than Grandma’s kitchen.

The National Kitchen and Bath Association conducted a survey among its member designers and contractors to discover the top national trends.

Light and dark

Cabinets are all white, all dark wood or a combination of both. The popularity of white-painted cabinetry jumped from 47 percent to 67 percent in a two-year time frame. At the same time, dark wood finishes are still loved for their richness of color and longevity. Dark wood’s style is enduring and never goes out of fashion.

Through the glass

Glass tiles are still very popular for backsplash material. They come in myriad shapes and colors and add the sleek, contemporary look that is integral to transitional design. McAvinew has seen glass used for countertops and islands.

“Glass is so customizable,” she said. “It can be cut into any shape. It’s easy to clean. A glass counter top that is lit from underneath just glows. It’s beautiful.”

The ‘aaaahhh’ factor

More homeowners are nixing the formal dining room and folding it into the kitchen area, looking for a comfortable and practical space that suits the needs of their families but also helps them to grow old in their own homes.

“Many of my clients are asking me to incorporate functionality that will allow them to stay in their houses as they age,” said Schuk, a certified “Aging in Place” (also known as “Universal Design”) specialist. That may include countertops of varying heights with rounded corners that accommodate wheelchairs and prevent injury in case of a fall. Wider aisles and doorways, drawer-style dishwashers and refrigerators as well as microwaves mounted in lower cabinets all help residents to age in place gracefully and with dignity.

Beneath your feet

Flooring ties it all together. At the same time, it needs to be durable enough to withstand the high traffic of a kitchen and comfortable to stand on when preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Now, more than ever, homeowners are looking at eco-friendly wood flooring for kitchens. According to Schuk, ceramic tiles are a strong contender.

“I love ceramic,” she said. “It offers so many options, and unlike wood, which can scratch and become marred easily, it stands up to kids and dogs.”

If wood flooring is high on the dream list and too expensive, homeowners should consider less costly engineered wood flooring, which is more resistant to moisture than hardwoods. That’s great for a kitchen where pots of water may spill or kids’ craft projects can get very, very messy.

Appliances take front-row seats

Aside from cabinetry, appliances are the biggest-ticket items in kitchen design. High-end ranges from Viking, Wolf or Thermador can easily add $5,000 to $8,000 or more to the cost of a remodel — and it’s the same with refrigerators. But for her clients that “really, really use their kitchens for cooking,” Shuk said, the cost is worth it in the end.

Very specialized appliances such as steamers, built-in espresso makers and AGA cookers are appearing on more must-have lists. Again, it’s all about the individual needs of the homeowner and how these workhorses will fit into their daily routines.

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